Support a Humane Thanksgiving: End Turkey Suffering and Have a Tasty Meal All at the Same Time

Each year, over 10 billion animals raised for food in the U.S. endure inhumane treatment. Most are confined such that they can’t behave naturally. Sadly, turkeys are not immune to this cruelty.

The biggest barrier is that most turkey producers don’t want to meet the space requirements in our standards, which allow turkeys the room that they need. Producers believe that shoppers are not concerned with the manner in which their food is raised. Let’s prove them wrong.

The goal of the program is to improve the lives of farm animals by driving demand for kinder and more responsible farm animal practices. When you see the Certified Humane Raised and Handled® label on a product you can be assured that the food products have come from facilities that meet precise, objective standards for farm animal treatment.

The Certified Humane Raised and Handled® label assures consumers:
• That the producer meets our standards and applies them to animals from birth.
• Animals have ample space, shelter and gentle handling to limit stress.
• Ample fresh water and a healthy diet of quality feed, without added antibiotics or hormones.
• Cages, crates and tie stalls are among the forbidden practices, and animals must be free to do what comes naturally. For example, chickens are able to flap their wings and dust bathe, and pigs have the space to move around and root.

This year, ensure your Thanksgiving turkey is Certified Humane®.

A Certified Humane® turkey is one that can flap its wings and move around freely, can perch above the ground at night, eat nutritious food that doesn’t contain antibiotics, and express natural behaviors.

Currently, there are only a handful of producers of turkeys that meet HFAC’s standards.

The power is with you, the shopper to help us get more turkeys Certified Humane®.

You can buy your turkey directly from these Certified Humane® producers, visit the Where to Buy page on the HFAC website, or use our handy app for iPhone/iPad and Android.

Take Action

Please help us make sure that by Thanksgiving next year, 8,000,000 turkeys are raised under our Humane Farm Animal Care Standards. You can show your support and end needless turkey suffering, simply by sharing your favorite holiday recipes on Facebook.

Enter your recipe by November 30th, 2013 in one of the following categories:

Finalists are announced on December 1st, 2013 and voting begins. Vote throughout the month of December for your favorite recipes. Winners receive incredible gift baskets filled with all sorts of Humane goodies – autographed titles from authors like Jamie Oliver, Michael Pollan, and Andrew Kimbrell, Certified Humane® products, aprons, jewelry and MORE! The grand prize winner will also receive a heritage breed turkey from Ayrshire Farm, valued at $200!

By voting and sharing this contest with your friends and family, you will be taking action to end animal suffering. Together, our collective voices will raise critical awareness of the plight of nearly 10 billion abused and neglected farm animals in this country.
Endorsed by more than 65 humane organizations, the Certified Humane Raised and Handled® program is nationally recognized as the “Gold Standard” for certifying animal welfare.

Join our Certified Humane® Holiday Recipe Contest to make a world of difference in the quality of life of turkeys around the country, and at your Thanksgiving table. Enter our contest here: http://bit.ly/1as5mca.